Kravis Center Wins Another Architectural Design Award

CMC's Kravis Center recently was recognized for architectural excellence at the 42nd Annual Los Angeles Architecture Awards at the Beverly Hilton, hosted by the Los Angeles Business Council and honoring "a diverse range of innovative architecture and design projects from throughout Los Angeles County that support a livable, beautiful, and economically vibrant region."
The Kravis Center was one of 33 winners of the 2012 L.A. Architecture Awards.
The winning projects encompass a wide range of building types, from museums to affordable apartment complexes to single-family homes. The call for entries went out in January 2012 to thousands of industry leaders. From the hundreds of submissions received, the jury selected 32 winning projects. A separate jury also selected a winner of the 2012 Julius Shulman Emerging Talent Award.
The award for the 169,000 square-foot Kravis Center came in the private education category.
"The Los Angeles Architectural Awards celebrate the very best in forward-thinking design that enhances economic vitality and quality of life throughout Los Angeles County," said Los Angeles Business Council President Mary Leslie. "We congratulate all the winners that help make Los Angeles an engine of creativity and dynamism on both the national and international stages."
Although the Kravis Center was designed minus a central public space or lobby, the interior opens effectively and expansively into the surrounding outdoor space. Indeed, in their selection of the Kravis Center, the judges cited the facility's transparency both as a way to use Southern California's natural daylight, as well as visually integrate the indoor and outdoor space. The L.A. Business Council also referenced the Kravis Center's significance on campus as the "prominent western gateway," and noted its rating, which is in the process of being certified as LEED Gold.
The Kravis Center was designed by Rafael Vi?oly Architects PC; the contractor was Bernards.
"I think the real beauty of this building is that it anchors the west end of our campus, totally transforming that side of our campus," says CMC's Director of Construction Frank Perri, who attended the awards ceremony.